Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Wood Coating

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Expert: - 4/10/2011


Question
Hello,
I am working on a home built bar and plan on putting an oak top on it.  I am looking to put a clear coating on top but I would like something that would resist scratching.  Any ideas?  I have looked at Varathane and Deft but not sure if they resist scratching.
Thank you in advance

Answer
Hey John, there is a plethora of available coatings you could use..., depending on variables like ...your experience level with finishing,desired look, the desired Gloss level, etc.Behlen's "Rock Hard" tabletop varnish is a good, tough product, but it rather Glossy, and may not be available in it's original form. The clear coat industry has gone through a MAJOR shakeup due to new Federal VOC regulations, phasing out traditional oil based finishes in many parts of the country. The new batch of waterborne coatings are becoming the Industry standard for floor, Kitchen cabinets, etc...coatings like Acrylic Catalyzed Urethanes...Zar makes a good product called "Ultra max" which I have used, an Oxygen coalescing oil modified Acrylic for furniture and for floors...most of these are "water white", meaning they do not possess the ambering that traditional oil varnishes and urethanes give to wood to give the finish "warmth", but they dry quickly, have little odor, and are quite durable, as compared to the early waterborne product. There are several floor products as well, like the Aluminum Oxide finishes, that are VERY durable, but need a bit of experience to apply, as they set up like an epoxy. A good urethane product should resist scratching when fully cured.I would lean towards an oil based product, personally..like the Arm-r-seal, for it's ease of application and tried and true history... but the Zar, or Enduro-Var, are newer products that are very promising.Hope that helps a little-......post back if need be- regards- Greg

http://www.ugl.com/zarWoodFinishing/zarInteriorPolyurethane/zarUltraMax.php

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2000751/BEHLEN-Rockhard-Table-Top-Varnish.aspx

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2007259/GENERAL-FINISHES-ArmRSeal.aspx

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2081078/EnduroVar-by-General-Finishes.aspx

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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